Latch



G. HAGSTROM Maly 2j, 195@ LATCH 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 2e, 194e May 25, W5@ e.. HAGSTROM 21,5%

LATCH Filed April 26, 1946 2 SheetSSheet 2 Patented May 2, 1950 2,505,858 LATCH Gotthard Hag'str'om, New Haven, Conn., assi'gnor, by mesne assignments, to Sterling Products, Incorporated, Bridgeport, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application April 26, 1946, Serial No. 665,300

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in latches and relates more particularly to improvenients in latches designed and adapted for lise on doors and other closures.

One of the objects of the present invention is `to provide a simple and reliable latch which may '.be lproduced at a low cost for manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to 'v-provide a superior latch which is readily avail- `able for-use either at the right or left edge of a :door or `other closure.

A'Yfurther object is to provide a simple, reliable 4and effective latch which may be easily installed teven by relatively-unskilled persons.

With the above and other objects in view. as will appear to those skilled in the art from the vpresent disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel Aover the prior art and which are not claimed in ;any separate application.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes -of Icarrying out the present invention fare shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. -1 is a view of a latch embodying the present invention, shown as mounted at the right edge rof a closure, Vthe showing being mainly in plan with the case-members and the said closure in horizontal section;

Fig. 2 is a View looking toward the inner face of the showing of Fig. 1 but with the outer casemember in vertical section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the unit cornprising the lever-handle and its spindle;

Fig. 4 is a detached perspective View of the pivotal latch-member;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the inner casemember;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the return-spring;

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the outer case-member;

Fig. 8 is a broken view similar to Fig. 1 but on a larger scale and showing the latch-member and return-spring in horizontal section;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the lever-handle depressed and the latch-member lifted; and

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the latch reversed for use at the left edge of a door or other closure.

The particular latch chosen for illustration in order to make clear a preferred form of the present invention, includes a cup-shaped inner case-member I0 having its end wall seated against the inner face of a door or other closure II and .opening away from the inner face of the said door.

Fitting over the inner case-member I0 before referred to, is an outer case-member I2 also of cup-shaped form and having its annular ange spun over against the outerface of the end wall of the inner case-member I6, as at I3.

The inner case-member IE has a central oisetportion I4 in its end wall which is pierced for the reception of the inner end of an externallythreaded coupling-sleeve I5 having its said inner end riveted or otherwise rigidly secured to the case-member Il] and projecting toward the opposite or outer face of the door II through a clearance-passage IB formed in the said door, as is indicated in Figs. l and 8.

The externally-threaded coupling-sleeve I5 of the case-member l0 is threaded into a couplingsleeve I'I projecting through the clearance-passage IB toward the case-member IIJ, from an escutcheon-plate assembly I8 seated against the outer face of the door opposite the case-member I, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 8. The interthreading of the coupling-sleeves I5 and II may be utilized to clamp the door or closure II between the escutcheon-plate IB and the assembly comprising the inner and outer case-members I0 and I2.

Journaled for oscillation in the coupling-sleeve I5 of the inner case-member I0 is a spindle I9 having its outer portion of rectangular or other suitable non-circular form in cross section. The rectangular portion of the spindle I9 projects through the coupling-sleeve I'l of the escutcheonplate assembly IB and into coupled relationship with respect to a door knob or handle 2i) or other suitable operating-member which may be rotatably coupled in any approved manner to the escutcheon-plate assembly I8.

The spindle I9, above referred to, forms a uni: tary feature of a lever-handle 2l projecting mainly in the direction of the faces of the door I I and hence substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal axis of the spindle I9. The said lever-handle is formed at its juncture with the spindle I9, with an annular stop-collar 22 seated in a central offset-portion 23 of the outer casemember I2. The said offset-portion 23 is centrally apertured as shown, for the passage therethrough of the base-portion of the lever-handle 2|, as is indicated in Figs. 1 and 8.

Located within the space provided between the respective end walls of the inner and outer casemembers I0 and I2, is an actuating-linger or eccentric 24 formed integral with the unit comprising the spindle I9 and lever-handle 2l and projecting in a direction opposite to that in which the said lever-handle 2| extends. The said actuating-finger bears against the inner face of the end wall of the inner case-member I and is formed with a ledge facing toward the leverhandle 2|, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Riveted or otherwise secured to the end-wall of the inner case-member l@ at a point closely adjacent the side wall of the latter, is a stud generally designated by the reference character 26 and mainly located within the enclosed space provided by the cooperating inner and outer casemembers IS and i2. The said stud Ais formed adjacent its end toward the end wall of the outer case-member l2, with an annular retaininggroove 2l, for purposes as will hereinafter appear.

Pivotally mounted upon the` stud r2,6A irrimediately adjacent the inner face of the end wall of the case-member if; is the inner end of a pivotal latch-member, generally designated by the reference character 28. TheY said latch-membe'rmay be conveniently formed of heavy sheet metal and is provided ata point opposite the stud 2, with 'a relatively-narrow integral extension 29 projecting through an arcuate peripheral clearance-slot 3U formedin the flange of the inner case-memb er I0. The said extension 29 also extends through a clearance-notch 3l registering with the clearance-slot 33 and formed in the edge of the iiange of the outer case-member i2. The end walls of either or both the clearance-slot Si) or the clearance-notch Si may be engaged by the lateral edges of the extension 29 of the latchmember 23, to thus limit the swinging movement oi the said latch-member about the stud 26 as a center.

Formed integral with and projecting outwardly from the outer portion of the extension 29 of the latch-member 2d, is a substantially U--shaped hook or nose 32 which is adapted to engage with any suitable keeper or striker (not shown) forming av usual feature of a door jamb or vsimilar structure.

lThe pivotal latch-member 23 above referred to, is formed substantially centrally with an opening generally designated by the reference character 33and adapted to provide clearancefor theac- ,tuating-finger oreccentric 24 of the unit comprising the spindle i9 and the lever-.handle 2i. The portion 'of the opening 33`opposite the Ystud 2B is preferably slightly contracted, as shown, to 'provide 'two oppositely-facing abutments 34 and 35 extending in substantial parallelism with each other and each adapted, under certain conditions, to ybe engaged by the actuating-'linger 2li, in a manner as will hereinafter appear.

At a point diametrically opposite its clearanceslot 39, the flange-portion 'of the inner casemember lil 'is formed with an arcuate notch 36 which provides ready 'access to the stud 2li and the parts connected thereto. In its end wall adjacent the clearance-slot 3U, the inner case-member IS is formed with two small openings respectively numbered 3'1 and 38 and spaced from each other in `a circumferential direction in such manner as to closely register with the respective opposite sides of the actuating-finger 24 when the same is in its normal central position, as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

j Let it be 'assumed that the latch is -mounted adjacent to what might be called the right edge 0f the door, as illustrated in Figs. l, 2 Aand 8. Under these conditions, it is preferred vthat a Lbrad, nail, pin or other suitable fastener suchas v39 be entered through the loweropening 38-inthe end wall of the inner case-member l0 and driven into the adjacent portion of the door Il so as to` leave its head or end projecting from the inner face of the end wall of the case-member IU. Under these conditions, the brad or pin 39 will not only serve to hold the case-structure comprising the parts il] and l2v and associated features, against rotation but will also form a stop to prevent the actuating-nger 2d from being swung downwardly. On the other hand, when the latch is turned around for mounting adjacent the left edge of a door Il, as is indicated in Fig. 10, the b rad or pin Se will preferably then be inserted through the opening S'I in the end wall of the case-member l, to thus limit the turning movement of the unit comprising the spindle I9 and ,lever-*handle 2i to a direction which will lift the hook or nose 2 of the latch-member 28.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the brad or pin 39 or its equivalent will serve under either the conditions of Figs.l 1, 2,8 and 9, or of Fig. l0, to not only limitk the swinging movement of the actuating-nger 2li-toA anupward direction, but will also serve to anchor theY innercasemember iii and its attached parts against rotation with respect to the door-l i. v

For the purpose of yieldingly urging the operlating-unit comprising the spindlei S and the lever handle 2l into a normal centralized or intermediate positiornas shown in Fig. 2, a return-spring generally designated by thereference character 4i), is employed. The said return-spring includes two laterally-bowed arms d! vand 42 which are integrally interconnected at their inner ends by a loop-portion :i3 which ts into the annular retaining-groove 2l Vin the stud 2t, around which the latch-member 2s pivots. Both of the arms lll and 62 of thereturn-spring @il normally rest upon the ledge 25 of theactuating-finger 24 on the respective opposite sides thereof, as is especially well shown in Fig. 2 and serve to yieldingly hold the said actuating-:linger toward the end wall of the case-member iii, 'Furthermore the ledge 25 serves to stabilize the free ends of the return-spring 4E).

Centrally with respect to the arcuate clearance-slot Sil in theside wall of the inner casemember i9, the said inner wall is struct: inwardly to provide a stop-lug M, with the respective opposite sides ofpwhich `the arms H` and 42 of the return-spring 4% normally engage.

When the latch is assembled with a door Vadjaucent theleftedge thereof, as is indicatedin Figs. 1,'2 and 8, the depression of therend of the leverhandle 2i will turn the spindle i9. This turning movement will cause the actuating-finger 24 to swing upwardly and engage with the abutment 3Q in the interior of 'the pivotal laten-member 2S, to swing the said latch-member upwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 9, tothus bring-the hook or nose `S27-into a releasing position. The

'movement of the lever-handle A2l as just `described, will `be against the tension of the arm 2i of the return-spring lid, in the manner indicated in Fig. 9, while the complemental arm 42 will be held against movement in the same direction by its engagement with the stop-lug 44 in the inner case-member iii.

When the lever-handle 2 iisreleased-after'having been shifted into the vpositionin whichit is vshown in Figi), the varm 4i -oi the return-spring Ml will serve (bypressing on theactuatng-nger .2f-l) to return the said `lever-handle to the positionin which it is shown in Fig-together with theparts'rigidly connected witht'he-fsaid handle.

The return movement of the lever-handle and its associated parts will, under these conditions, be limited by the engagement of the actuatingnger 214 with the projecting-portion of the brad or pin 39.

Under conditions where the latch is mounted adjacent the left edge of the door Il, as indicated in Fig. 10, the downward swinging movement of the lever-handle 2| will swing the actuating-finger 24 against the tension of the arm 42 of the return-spring 40 and will lift the nose 32 of the latch-member 28. Under these conditions, the brad or pin 39 will be extending through the perforation 31 (rather than 38) in the inner case-member Il), and when the lever-handle is released, its return movement will be limited by the engagement of the actuating-linger 24 with the projecting-portion of the said brad or pin 39.

The invention may be carried out in other specic ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present ernbodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A latch, including in combination: a case comprising two complemental cup-shaped casemembers having their respective side walls telescopically intertted and having their respective end walls spaced from each other and each formed with an opening registering with the opening in the end wall of the other case-member, the respective side walls of the said case-members being each formed with a clearance-opening; a stud projecting into the interior of the said case from the end wall of one of the said casemembers and located opposite the clearanceopenings in the side walls of the said case-members, the said stud being formed with springretaining means; a plate-like latch-member pivoted at its inner end upon the said stud and having a portion extending through the respective clearance-openings in the side walls of the said case-members, the said latch-member having a lateral opening therethrough located within the said case and registering with the respective openings in the spaced-apart end walls of the said case-members; an operating-unit having a portion projecting through the respective openings in the end walls of the said case-members and through the lateral opening in the said latchmember, the said portion of the operating-member having an eccentric located within the said case and operatively engageable with the said latch-member; two handles respectively rigid with the opposite ends of the said operating-unit; and a return-'spring located within the said case and having two arms respectively extending on opposite sides of and engaging with the said operating-unit and an integral loop-portion interconnecting the said arms and inter-engaging with the spring-retaining means of the said stud.

2. A latch, including in combination: a. case having spaced-apart end walls and a side wall extending between the said end walls, the said side wall being provided with a clearance-opening and with a spring-stopping abutment adjacent the said clearance-opening, each of the said spacedapart end Walls being formed with registering openings; a plate-like pivotal latch-member swinging within the said case and having a portion extending through the clearance-opening in the side wall of the said case for engagement with a keeper or the like, the said latch-member having a lateral opening therethrough located within the said case and registering with the respective openings in the spaced-apart end walls of the case; an operating-unit having a portion projecting through both of the openings in the end walls of the said case and through the lateral opening in the said latch-member, the said portion of the operating-unit having an eccentric located Within the said case and swingable into operative engagement with the said latch-member; two handles respectively rigid with the opposite ends of the said operating-unit and return-spring means located in the said case and including two portions respectively extending on opposite sides of and engaging with the said operating-unit to yieldingly hold the eccentric thereof in an intermediate position, the two said portions of the return-spring means engaging With the aforesaid spring-stopping abutment of the said case.

GOTTHARD HAGSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED rihe following references are of record iin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,862 Claude-Mantle June 24, 1924 2,368,487 Newell Jan. 30, 1945 2,378,654 Pekny June 19, 1945 2,390,984 Bloss Dec. 18, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 565,201 France Nov. 5, 1923 

